Memory growth detection

Abstract

A process for monitoring memory growth of a software application includes measuring a baseline memory usage for processes operating on a computer system. A background memory logging script is then executed to log process memory usage. At some later time, a trending script is executed which outputs a list showing how memory usage has changed for each process operating on the system.

1. A method for memory growth detection comprising:
 defining a baseline memory usage for at least one process operating in a computer system by executing a first script that captures a physical and logical memory size of the at least one process operating on the computer system at an initial time, the first script configured to invoke a second script to run indefinitely in the background of the computer system; 
 periodically logging a memory usage during a predefined period of time via the second script, for the at least one process while the at least one process is currently running, the logged memory usage comprising the physical and the logical memory size of the at least one process operating in the computer system; 
 comparing the logged memory usage and the baseline memory usage by comparing a memory size of the at least one process that is currently running to the baseline memory usage; and 
 determining a trend in memory size changes of the at least one process based on the periodic logging of the memory usage during the predefined period of time. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1  further comprising outputting a result indicative of a difference between the logged memory usage and the baseline memory usage. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1  wherein said script logs a memory usage of a plurality of processes operating on the computer system. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1  wherein defining a baseline memory usage comprises recording a memory usage of processes operating on the computer system at an initial time. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 4  wherein recording a memory usage comprises executing a ps command. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1  further comprising generating a list of memory usage changes for said at least one process. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 6  wherein said list comprises changes in memory usage between logging cycles for the at least one process. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 6  comprising ascertaining from said list whether memory usage changes are indicative of memory leak. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1  comprising executing a first utility to produce a log file of memory usage for the at least one process, said log file comprising a comparison with said baseline memory usage. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 9  comprising executing a second utility that processes said log file to produce a list associating the at least one process with changes in memory usage of the respective at least one process. 
     
     
       11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform:
 defining a baseline memory usage for processes operating in a computer system by executing a first script that captures a physical and logical memory size of the processes operating on the computer system at an initial time, the first script configured to invoke a logging script to run indefinitely in the background of the computer system; 
 executing the logging script that periodically logs memory usage during a predefined period of time for the processes running on the computer system while the processes are currently running, the logged memory usage comprising the physical and the logical memory size of the processes; 
 comparing a memory size of the processes that are currently running to the baseline memory usage; and 
 executing a trending script while the logging script is running, the trending script producing an output indicating a trend in memory size changes of the processes based on the periodic logging of the memory usage during the predefined period of time. 
 
     
     
       12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 11  comprising instructions for recording the baseline memory usage for said processes. 
     
     
       13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 11  comprising instructions for generating a list associating a process with memory usage by the process. 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 11  further comprising instructions for configuring a logging period. 
     
     
       15. A computer system for testing a software application, the computer system comprising:
 at least one memory utilized during execution of said software application; and 
 at least one processor configured to:
 execute said software application; 
 execute a first script to define a baseline memory usage for at least one process of the software application operating in the computer system by capturing a physical and logical memory size of the at least one process of the software application operating on the computer system at an initial time, the first script configured to invoke a memory monitoring process to run indefinitely in the background of the computer system; 
 execute the memory monitoring process that periodically records a memory usage during a predefined period of time of said at least one process of the software application while said software application is executing in the computer system, the recorded memory usage comprising the physical and the logical memory size of the at least one process of the software application; 
 compare a memory size of the at least one process of said software application that is currently running to the baseline memory usage; 
 determine a trend in memory size changes of the software application based on the periodic recording of the memory usage during the predefined period of time; and 
 output a memory log of said software application. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The computer system according to  claim 15  wherein said memory log comprises changes in memory usage of the software application between logging cycles.